Deep in the country of Lawrence County, Indiana, you will find an underground boat ride that is unlike any boat ride you have ever taken.

Our Trip to Bluespring Caverns With Kids

Earlier this summer, my kids and I had the opportunity to take such a boat ride when we visited the beautiful Bluespring Caverns. I have to tell you guys, after this ride, I do not know that I will ever view another boat in the same regard.

***Disclaimer- My family and I received entry to Bluespring Cavern, as well as lodging in nearby Corydon, IN in exchange for this post. Rest assured, all opinions expressed are my own.*** 

As our last stop on the Indiana Cave Trail, pulling up to Bluespring Caverns was a breath of fresh air. This cavern site seems to have a heavy focus on the rich history and modern discoveries of the caverns. Here, the main attraction is the cavern, and your education and experience is the staff’s main focus.

So what did we find while visiting Bluespring Caverns? Check it out!

Unique Underground Boat Ride through Bluespring Caverns

What really set this cavern tour apart from the others that we saw on the Indiana Cave Trail, was the fact that the majority of this tour was done from a boat!

To begin our tour, we descended a steep, paved incline down into the mouth of the cave. From here, we boarded the small pontoon boat that would carry us through our tour of this beautiful cavern. This boat allowed us to fully experience the river that crafted this cavern, giving a deeper appreciation for the cave itself.

Plus, it excited my kiddos to be on a boat, which made for a nice change of pace from the prior walking tours.

One piece to be noted, the waterway in the tour is not lit up as it was during the Indiana Caverns Tour. The two lights at either end of the boat provide the main lighting on the tour. This gives a much

more realistic feel to your cave exploration adventure.

Wildlife Not Seen Elsewhere in the State

Bluespring Caverns was also my crew’s most active tour in regards to wildlife. In most cases, caves host very little in ways of wildlife due to the lack of sunlight and food sources. Sure, you will occasionally see a stray bat, or a cave salamander inside an Indiana cave, but outside of that, wildlife is going to be scarce.

When our tour guide pointed out both blind crayfish and blind fish on this tour, my kids were excited to say the least.

No, these critters are not warm and cuddly. Yes, they are really, really small. But the fact that something can survive and THRIVE in these conditions? Yeah, these little guys were pretty freaking cool.

Staff who Live in these Caverns

Ok, so they do not really live in the caverns, but honestly, they might as well.

The staff at Bluespring Caverns were beyond passionate about their jobs. Why? Because they actually love what they do.

Late night floats through the cave, listening to tunes. Tours where singing groups break out into acapella in the caverns. Spelunking through cavern passages that look too small to fit a human. Our tour guide was full of stories such as these of his own experiences in the same cavern we were touring.

These caverns consume the minds of the tour guides here, and this makes for an amazing experience as a guest. I mean, who better to answer your burning questions about the cave than one of the people who continue to explore it for new passages?

Speaking of burning questions, our guide was also spectacular at answering all of my children’s questions along the tour. This included my daughter’s questions spawning from a lack of ability to process the sarcastic humor the guide provided throughout the tour. Yeah, sometimes the questions of a 9-year-old can be fun. Lucky for me, this guy totally rolled with it.

Nature Trail to Get You Moving

Back towards the entrance to Bluespring Caverns Park, you will find a nature trail that will take you to a rather unique location. A short, easy hike will take you to Indiana’s largest sinkhole, and the original mouth of this cavern.

The path winds all around the sinkhole, giving you some really spectacular views into its depths. During our trip, this beautiful hike was also decorated with breathtaking Indiana wildflowers. These flowers, paired with the fact that my kids didn’t need to be carried through any part of this trail, really made the walk spectacular.

Back towards the beginning of the hike, be sure to check out the information sign. (I am personally guilty of skipping these, but made a stop on my way back through to check it out.) This sign gives a more in-depth history of the discovery of the sinkhole, and really ties the trail back to the caves.

Don’t you love it when things come together like that?

Perfect Porch for Relaxing

So walked down that big hill to go on your boat ride through the caverns, and then you walked back up. Now you are tired, do not quite want to get back in the car yet, and just need a minute.

Don’t we all?

The porch off of the back of the main building at Bluespring Caverns is the perfect place for you to take a load off! This porch overlooks the mouth of the cavern, and has a beautiful view of the surrounding greenery. It is the perfect space for you to take a few minutes to just enjoy nature (or people watch, we all love people-watching).

Biggest perk? You are already back up that huge hill, so when you are done, you can simply walk to your car and load up.

Yep, I celebrate the little things, mama.

Notes from The Crazy Working Mom on Bluespring Caverns

First things first mama. This place has a seriously AWESOME Gem Mining station. The whole setup is just built to look awesome, and it totally does.

This being said, be mindful that while it is reasonably priced, this experience will cost you extra. Thus, if you have itty bittys who cannot read and you are not interested in buying more than the cave tour, you may want to steer them away. (Though I highly recommend letting your kids do a gem mining experience at least once. Those rocks will totally come out in your dryer later, but your kids will love it!)

Looking for a place to feed the kiddos before you put them on an underground boat? Mama, Bluespring has your back! There were at least two picnic areas on sight, and both of them that I saw were NICE. Pavilions to keep you from getting wet while your kids get to eat outside of the car are nice.

Another important note, Bluespring Caverns is literally in the middle of nowhere. Please be certain that your GPS is fully functioning when you head out to the park, as you will need it!

Do not get me wrong, it is a beautiful drive through the country, and the caverns are TOTALLY worth it. Just do not want the kids driving you nuts because you are lost on a back country road somewhere.

Just sayin.

Alright mama, now that you have my insights on this awesome underground boat ride through Bluespring Caverns, get out there and explore!

Already been to Bluespring Caverns? Let me know about your trip below!

Ready to hit the entire Indiana Cave Trail? Check out my posts on Marengo Caves, Indiana Caverns, and Squire Boone Caverns so that you do not miss a bit of cave excitement in the area!